Then, the BPS Testing Laboratory (BPSTL) tour was conducted on 11 October 2022 for DTI employees and on 12 October 2022 for private and public sectors. The two-day laboratory tour, which was participated by about 100 stakeholders in total, showcased the new facilities of the BPSTL in support of industry competitiveness and consumer protection.

On 13 October 2022, the BPS conducted the Public Orientation on the Updated List of Products Under Mandatory Certification via Zoom Teleconferencing and FB Live. The orientation informed the 611 participants on the updated mandatory product list specifically the twenty-four (24) additional products including their specific product coverage, enabling laws, and reference Philippine National Standards (PNS), among others. 

The webinar was opened by BPS Asst. Director Ferdinand Manfoste. He underscored that the BPS has actively contributed in empowering consumers and enabling businesses through its continuous development of standards and technical regulations for products covered in the BPS’ List of Products under Mandatory Certification. 

Lastly, on 14 October 2022, the BPS conducted the Standards Stakeholders Conference (SSC) in celebration of the World Standards Day. The SSC 2022 featured informative and interactive sessions that emphasized the role of standards in achieving the SGDs. DTI-CPG Undersecretary Atty. Castelo provided the welcome remarks followed by messages and thought-provoking sessions from esteemed resource speakers. 

Mr. Sergio Mujica, ISO Secretary-General, underscored that standards are indispensable to realize the huge tasks defined by the UN SDGs. He added that we need to act and collaborate now to build a safer and better world. Mr. Dennis Chew, the IEC Regional Director for Asia-Pacific Regional Centre, shared a message with emphasis on the digital transformation in standardization. He said that in this digital age, the use of digital tools facilitates the standards development of standardization bodies. 

In the first session, Mr. Magnus Hakvåg, the CEO of House of Knowledge (HOK), discussed the diversity and inclusion in standardization and stressed the importance of diversified participation in standards development and the need of education and awareness on standards in general. He also shared the importance of standards in establishing one market and in solving sustainability issues. 

In the second session, Dr. Rosemarie G. Edillon, Undersecretary for the Policy and Planning Group of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), discussed the role of standards in achieving a sustainable economy. She also underscored the importance of the national quality infrastructure in achieving a high-trust society, which involves standardization and conformity assessment, and which helps to integrate all quality-ensuring activities and sectors, including the MSMEs, to establish competitiveness of the Philippines to be at par with the global market. 

In the third session, Ms. Mojdeh Rowshan Tabari, CEO of International Standard Institute of the Next Generation, emphasized the important role of the next generation professionals and students as the future developers and users of standards, and as future policy makers. She also said that educating and training them as early as possible is vital to remain competitive in the global market. 

In the last session, Mr. Steven Margis, Director of Conformity Assessment Programs for UL Solutions, shared that digital transformation is realized as this pandemic turned the world upside down, which led us to discover and utilize various digital tools and services. He added that we have to transform along with the advancement of technology and adapt to situations in order to meet the needs of the market. 

BPS Director Neil P. Catajay then recognized and appreciated all the men and women behind the BPS standardization activities as well as its partners in conformity assessment activities. One of which is Engr. Conrado Binondo, Chairman of the BPS Technical Committee on Electrical Installations and Protection against Electric Shock (BPS/TC 77), who was presented the IEC 1906 Award as recognition for his exceptional and recent achievements contributing in a significant way to advancing the work of the IEC. 

DTI-CPG Assistant Secretary Atty. Ann Claire C. Cabochan closed the SSC 2022 with five points to describe the discussions: (1) We have to start them young; (2) We are all interconnected; (3) We are only as strong as the weakest link; (4) While individual achievements are awesome and need to be celebrated, the extraordinary power of a shared vision is more compelling and it is the only hope we have if we would like our world to be a better world; and (5) We all matter. 

The SSC 2022 was participated by more than 200 participants from the private and public sectors. 

The BPS also granted the public free reading access to Philippine National Standards (PNS) from 08 to 31 October 2022 to facilitate more learning and inspire greater appreciation of all the standards being developed, adopted, and promulgated by the BPS as the National Standards Body of the Philippines. 

For more updates and information on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures (STRACAP), please visit the BPS website (www.bps.dti.gov.ph). Emails and messages may also be sent to bps@dti.gov.ph or through the official BPS Facebook page (facebook.com/PHstandards).♦

Date of Release: 24 October 2022